Searching for fairness in the carbon tax

WFP - Opinion

Searching for fairness in the carbon tax

By: Molly McCracken

Last month, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives — Manitoba released a report authored by Harvey Stevens that found the federal carbon tax will reduce more greenhouse gases than the proposed Made in Manitoba Climate and Green Plan. The premier responded that the federal escalating carbon price will hurt Manitobans ("Federal carbon plan seen by think-tank as more effective than Manitoba’s," Aug. 30). But Manitoba’s carbon tax will hurt those who can least afford to pay it, even after the carbon tax rebate and new tax cuts are factored in.

A price on carbon increases the prices of goods that use fossil fuels, which is a larger share of total spending for households with incomes under $50,000 per year. This cost could be entirely offset for these low- and moderate-income households that can least afford it. But unfortunately, the province is playing a shell game with taxes and hoping we won’t notice.

The Progressive Conservatives campaigned on indexing the Basic Personal Exemption (BPE) to inflation and bringing the PST back to seven per cent. Further analysis finds the Manitoba carbon tax will cost families below the poverty line (low-income cutoff) $113 per year, but will only be offset by $23 from the BPE increases. The PST decrease will benefit low- and moderate-income earners less, as they spend less. These are poor substitutes for a progressive carbon tax credit.

The Manitoba government was going to index the BPE and decrease the PST long before the federal government rolled out its carbon tax policy. Manitoba then re-profiled the tax changes as offsets to the carbon tax in an attempt to appease the public and the business community. But the carbon tax should sting enough to discourage use of fossil fuels while funding alternatives like public transit. At the same time, low- and moderate-income Manitobans should not be disproportionately affected.

EcoFiscal Commission research shows that policies can be designed so the carbon tax is actually revenue-neutral for low- and moderate-income people. They found it would take 12.6 per cent of carbon tax revenue to fully compensate the first two quintiles of Manitobans (those earning $50,000 per year and under) for its cost and fund public amenities to fight climate change. Investing carbon tax revenues in affordable, quality public transit and home heating would improve quality of life and help low- and moderate-income people in particular.

In Manitoba, there will be little money left over to invest in green infrastructure. The province estimates the carbon tax will bring in $248 million in its first year, but reducing the PST will cost $300 million per year. Indexing the BPE costs $178 million and other small-business tax deductions $1.8 million. It is unclear how much Manitoba will earn from the legalization of marijuana after costs are considered, so this revenue is not included. So, all told, this shell game is costing Manitoba $231.8 million annually in lost revenue.

As the province cuts taxation revenue while moving to balance the budget, there will undoubtedly be more backward public policy in the face of climate change, such as unilaterally ending the 50/50 cost sharing for Winnipeg Transit. Not to mention failing to adequately fund health and education funding to the rate of inflation, a de facto cut.

British Columbia went through a similar experience when its carbon tax was introduced in 2008. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives — BC found tax cuts and credits introduced with the carbon tax reduced government expenditures more than the tax brought in, making the B.C. carbon tax "revenue-negative." The B.C. carbon tax introduced by the provincial government at the time had a disproportionate impact on low-income British Columbians and benefited the highest-income earners, those who are the biggest emitters. The current B.C. government is increasing the carbon tax while introducing progressive elements to compensate low- and moderate-income households and investing in renewables.

It is ironic that, at a time when scientists are warning we only have 10 to 20 years before climate change puts us on an irrevocable path to "Hothouse Earth," Manitoba is stalling on investments in amenities to deal with climate change and aid our daily lives during the huge temperature swings between Manitoba summers and winters.

The province is receiving commentary on its Made in Manitoba Climate and Green Plan, which includes the carbon tax, until Sept. 30. Here’s hoping Manitobans see through the shell game and a progressive path can be taken.

Molly McCracken is the director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives — Manitoba.